Abstract
We treated four patients with infected total hip arthroplasties for 16 years. We reviewed onset time of infection, organism, and the timing of reimplantation. Cultures grew staphylococcus epidermidis in two hips, MRSA in one hip, and enterococcus faecium in one hip. Three joints acutely infected were cured by continuous drainage and could retain prosthesis, and 2 - stage reimplantation on one joint that was infected late. Debridement with retention of the prosthesis is a potentially successful treatment for early postoperative infections and should not be attempted in patients with chronic infection.
